Rigid, erect, glaucous, rhizomatous perennials. Auricles absent. Ligule membranous, truncate. Leaf-blade linear, narrow, usually involute, aromatic when crushed. Inflorescence a simple spike, with solitary ± sessile spikelets, alternate on stout very fragile rachis. Spikelets 2-10-flowered, laterally compressed, appressed to rachis; disarticulation above glumes; florets ☿, rachilla prolonged. Glumes ± equal, similar, < adjacent lemmas, 4-12-nerved, coriaceous, oblong, obtuse, acute or truncate, awnless. Lemmas similar in texture to glumes, 5-nerved, glabrous, rounded below keeled near tip, obtuse, awnless. Palea ≈ lemma, 2-keeled. Lodicules 2, membranous, ciliate, usually asymmetrically lobed. Stamens 3. Ovary hairy, hispid hairs at apex; styles 2, free. Caryopsis free from lemma and palea; embryo small; hilum long, linear.